Monday, August 04, 2008

Leaving the country

After months of planning, praying and packing, we're off to sunny, er, weatherful Scotland! We're spending about ten days in India visiting friends on the way and then will be living in Edinburgh for the next three-ish years. Jessica will be working as an operations manager for a Scottish Episcopal (Anglican) church. I will be beginning a PhD at Edinburgh University in the School of Divinity (I am still planning to post my initial proposal at some stage, if only for humour value in three years' time). Our emails will remain the same.

I intend to pick up the blogging a little more regularly once we arrive, including finishing the current series on running from the past. My wife Jessica has also promised to start a (photo) blog once we get there and has even decided to join Facebook - wonders will never cease!

More to come on the far side of India...

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bye Byron and Jess. Have a great trip. We'll all really miss you. May the Lord bless you richly in his tender mercy.

Anonymous said...

Ditto what Erro said.

Stuart Heath said...

Bon voyage :) May well see you in the antipodes!

boxthejack said...

Welcome, welcome!

I know you've been here before, but you do realise you'll be arriving mid-Fringe?

You'll look very silly if you arrive in Edinburgh not wearing a monkey suit, or at least a dress and make-up so you'd might as well prepare on the plane.

Anonymous said...

Wow, an Edinburgh doctoral program! Great news all around. Enjoy your stay in India, too. I know Australia will miss you, but fortunately, the blogosphere allows all your "e-friends" to keep up.

Anthony Douglas said...

I'm looking forward to everything you said, except the leaving the country part!

Looking on the bright side, I'm sure this means a steady stream of new photos, and associated 'points of interest'... ;-)

Anonymous said...

Safe travels! Make sure you drop by the picturesque little town of Aberystwyth ...

Megan said...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
(scottish or irish blessing?? there seems to be some disagreement! - but God be with you, and look forward to hearing about it on your blog)

byron smith said...

Thanks everyone. Just a brief note while I get a chance to jump online in India.

BtJ - looking forward to the fringe and we have our bells and novelty-sized toothbrushes all ready.

Anthony - I am sure there will be many things to point out in some pointed posts about various points of interest (though Donna insists I include some Indian images to give her a chance to beat you!).

Megan - I love that blessing (even if the road rising up to meet me does sound like I'm falling over)! Shame to have not met in person before I left. Perhaps in a few years...

Megan said...

It would have been lovely to have met - oh well - if I make it to Scotland some time in the next while!(which isn't that farfetched - my husband and I both have Scottish blood and so plan to visit sometime, though with little kids this may be some time later) -And if ever you are in Fife and happen by Balcaskie House, you might run into some distant relos of mine..I'm a member of Clan Strange - and that's not a joke..

One of Freedom said...

Nice! Just across the pond now. Still a bit far for me to get to with my hybrid. ;-)

many blessings as you travel!